Queer Books

Nous allons discuter **Les Belles promesses de Pierre Lemaitre en Mai.** Bonne lecture!!!

**Welcome to the Paris Poetry Circle!** Now in its 30th year, our English-language poetry reading group continues to bring together lovers of verse and thought in the heart of Paris. 🎉 Join us this Wednesday evening for a gathering of minds and voices as we read and reflect on poems that move, challenge, and illuminate — all shared over some quiet drinks. 🫖☕️🥤🧉🍹 We seek poems that are clear yet profound, sweet or serious — those that carry us forward and help us make sense of the world. We steer clear of the obscure or needlessly complex; we value clarity over cleverness, sincerity over show. Each poem is read anonymously to begin with, without revealing the author, allowing space for open, unbiased interpretation. We then explore it together — carefully, curiously — to uncover what lies beneath the surface. After the meeting, we write a letter of thanks to the living poets we have read at the group, to thank and congratulate them. We revere all the poets of this world. The group is small — usually six or seven thoughtful individuals, up to a maximum of ten. The conversation is warm, intelligent, and grounded. There is no performance, no pressure to contribute, and no cost. Only a shared pursuit of insight, beauty, and fellowship. If that resonates with you, we’d love to welcome you. Bring a poem, or simply bring yourself. 📚✨

An evening of board games, drinks, and good company. We'll have different games set up across tables, and we'll rotate throughout the night so you get to play with everyone. No need to bring anything. Just show up and play. **Agenda** 📍 19h00 — Arrive, drinks, settle in 🧊 19h15 — Round 1: Icebreaker game at your table 🔄 19h45 — Shuffle — move to a new table 🎲 19h45 — Round 2: Party game 🔄 20h15 — Shuffle again 🃏 20h15 — Round 3: Free choice 🍻 20h45 — Free play & drinks 👋 21h00 — Wrap up **Who are we?** We're Hold My Club, a community that brings people together through creative and social events. We believe meeting new people should feel natural. So we create the right setting and help you stay connected with people who share your interests.

AUCUNE VIE N’EST ILLÉGALE. On parle de flux. On parle de chiffres. Nous parlons de vies. Le 20 mai, le Dissident Club accueille une soirée artistique engagée autour des réalités des migrations. Couloirs irréguliers — exposition de Password Yeltes Slam poétique — Maia Medali On comprend. On avance ensemble. Venez regarder, comprendre et échanger avec nous. L’exposition est visible du 20 mai au 10 juin. 5% des ventes seront reversées à l’association Utopia 56. Viens avec quelqu’un. Partage si ça te parle. On comprend. On avance ensemble. Venez regarder, comprendre et échanger avec nous. 🗓️ MERCREDI 20 MAI de 19H à 20H45 📍 58 rue Richer 75009 Paris 🔴 entrée = 1 boisson 🌐 visitez www.thedissidentclub.org pour plus d’informations

Our sessions of drink and paints events take place in the beautiful and trendy Ginie café (24 rue de Babylone, Paris 7th), where art, music, and a vibrant social energy come together. From the moment you arrive, you’re immersed in a warm, stylish atmosphere with a subtle disco vibe 🪩✨—think curated playlists, soft lighting, and an upbeat rhythm that sets the tone for a creative and feel-good experience. It’s lively without being overwhelming, elegant yet playful, creating the perfect balance for connection and self-expression 🎶🎨 ✨ What makes our experience special: 🪩 A chic and intimate setting in the heart of Paris, with a trendy, welcoming ambiance 🎶 A music-driven atmosphere with disco-inspired vibes that energise and uplift the group 🎨 Fully guided yet flexible creative sessions, designed to be fun and accessible for all levels 🍷 A generous selection of high-quality drinks—wine, cocktails, beers, and premium non-alcoholic options 🤝 A social, engaging format that naturally encourages interaction and strengthens connections It’s more than just a workshop—it’s an experience where creativity flows, conversations spark, and everyone leaves with both a piece of art and a great memory 💫 **Les Amis** is a women-only community of friendly souls. We provide access to hundreds of experiences that explore your passions and connect you with other event participants. **Check our website to learn more, and apply to join our community and events**: [lesamis.cc/apply](https://www.lesamis.cc/apply)

Une soirée fun et conviviale autour des jeux de rôle :) Plusieurs tables, plusieurs univers. Entrez, sortez dans ces mondes que vous créerez avec votre imagination collective. Accessible aux personnes n'ayant jamais fait du jeu de rôle. **\*-----------------------------** **C'est un évènement très demandé !** **Merci de ne vous inscrire que si vous comptez venir.** **\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\*** Prix d'entrée du café-jeux à 10 €, dont une boisson comprise et des jeux à volonté. Nous ne pouvons garantir les places que jusqu'à 19h.

**Step into the laid-back charm of Cosy Cave Conversations**, a Parisian philosophy chat that's more relaxed than a cat in a sunbeam 🐈 🌞 Gather with a bunch of easygoing souls, share thoughts on the good life and its mysteries, enjoy a beverage, and have a good laugh. A few things to be aware of: * **Please** **don't show up without a spot** (we aim to keep it cosy and we always have a waiting list these days — check if you’re on the list or the waiting list) * If it's your first event, it's essential you **turn up early, or at the latest on time (<7pm)** so you understand how it works, what the topic is and don't interrupt the session * The **session runs from 7pm to 8:30pm** where we focus on the discussion, but don't worry, you'll have a chance to socialise, introduce yourselves and continue the chat after the session. **If you’re running late** (the curtains are closed), that’s okay, but please wait to join us in the break rather than interrupting the session. * Please read the **tips below** for a good session before coming along **How does it work?** We embrace the café-philo method — proposing intriguing topics on the night (up to 3), choosing one together, and diving into everything from consciousness, community, death and god, while managing to keep it light and easy 🦦 **Forget the stiff atmosphere**, we're all about small groups (\~10 people) and unpretentious chats with no homework required. No need for a philosophy degree, just bring your open mind and a dash of curiosity. **Join us every Wednesday 19h-20h30 at Les Acolytes** — because pondering the profound is better with good company (and a pint). See you there! 🎉 A few tips for a great session: * come with an **open and curious mind** 🧠 * **prioritise listening to others and asking questions** without interrupting or long monologues 👂 * we put a strong **emphasise on giving everyone a chance to contribute to the discussion**, so try and be aware of how much space and time you take up when speaking 🐻‍❄️ * we prioritise **intellectual accessibility**: this is not an academic group therefore we ask to keep any philosophy jargon to a minimum and instead explain any concepts in plain english 🤠 * we are an **apolitical group** that focuses on discussing and exploring philosophical ideas without endorsing or aligning with any specific political or religous ideologies. Our aim is to encourage open, unbiased dialogue centered on philosophical inquiry within a safe and respectful environment 🐥

Let's get together with a drink and discuss this book. Location to be confirmed soon :) Exploring the psychological dynamics of the relationship between a precocious yet naïve teenage girl and her magnetic and manipulative teacher, a brilliant, all-consuming read that marks the explosive debut of an extraordinary new writer. 2000\. Bright\, ambitious\, and yearning for adulthood\, fifteen\-year\-old Vanessa Wye becomes entangled in an affair with Jacob Strane\, her magnetic and guileful forty\-two\-year\-old English teacher\. 2017\. Amid the rising wave of allegations against powerful men\, a reckoning is coming due\. Strane has been accused of sexual abuse by a former student\, who reaches out to Vanessa\, and now Vanessa suddenly finds herself facing an impossible choice: remain silent\, firm in the belief that her teenage self willingly engaged in this relationship\, or redefine herself and the events of her past\. But how can Vanessa reject her first love\, the man who fundamentally transformed her and has been a persistent presence in her life? Is it possible that the man she loved as a teenager—and who professed to worship only her—may be far different from what she has always believed? Alternating between Vanessa’s present and her past, *My Dark Vanessa* juxtaposes memory and trauma with the breathless excitement of a teenage girl discovering the power her own body can wield. Thought-provoking and impossible to put down, this is a masterful portrayal of troubled adolescence and its repercussions that raises vital questions about agency, consent, complicity, and victimhood. Written with the haunting intimacy of *The Girls* and the creeping intensity of *Room*, *My Dark Vanessa* is an era-defining novel that brilliantly captures and reflects the shifting cultural mores transforming our relationships and society itself. [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44890081-my-dark-vanessa?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=zhULtTnx80&rank=1](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44890081-my-dark-vanessa?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=zhULtTnx80&rank=1)(round 2)

Let's dive into the literature of Eastern Europe! One that carries some of the most powerful, witty, melancholic, and resilient stories ever written. This theme encompasses many of the works of Eastern European authors, some known and most unknown, from post-communist memoirs and political satire to novels, family histories, and modern fiction. The theme is to invite us to explore the voices, histories, and cultures of Eastern Europe through recommendation of the others and to talk about our most loved books within the theme. Bring along a favorite read, a recent discovery, or a longtime classic you’d love to share and discuss with the group. (Physical copies are always welcome for our little group photo tradition! 📚✨) (This is a themed book club, so there’s no required reading. Just come ready to talk, recommend, reflect, and discover new perspectives together. Discussions are in English.) P.S. I’ll reach out before the event to confirm attendance. Please cancel in advance if plans change so I can adjust the reservation accordingly. Merci\~ 🌹

🌼 Somewhere in a park in Paris, we’ll sit down together and spend a bit of time with the first three chapters of ***Mastery* by Robert Greene**, a book about how people find their direction, often slowly and imperfectly, and grow into it over time. Let's enjoy the rhythm of spring, and take some time to exchange perspectives in a relaxed, open-minded atmosphere. It’s as much about the conversation as it is about the book, getting to know how others think, what resonates with them, and where views differ. ***Mastery*** is known for its clear, engaging writing and its mix of philosophy, psychology, and real-life stories. Greene looks at how people find their path, often in uncertain or unexpected ways, and how they develop their craft over time. For this gathering, we’ll stay with the first three chapters (and leave the rest for a second round). * **Discover Your Calling** * **Submit to Reality** * **See People as They Are** Each of these opens up space for reflection, not just on the book, but on our own experiences. The conversation can move naturally between what Greene writes and what it brings up for each of us: moments we’ve gone through, things we’re questioning, or perspectives that don’t quite match. It’ll be relaxed. Sitting in the grass, or on a bench, maybe with a coffee or something to share. No rigid structure, no pressure to speak if you don’t feel like it. Just a group of people taking the time to think and talk, together. 🌼 Goodreads reference: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13589182-mastery

Coucou les égarés ! Pour le mois de mai, je vous propose la lecture de "Jane Eyre", de Charlotte Brontë. On se retrouvera à l'étage de l'Indiana Café de Montparnasse, pour en discuter autour d'un dîner, comme d'habitude. À bientôt !

Join us for our May Book Club gathering where we will come together to discuss *[Cantoras](https://caroderobertis.com/books/cantoras/)*[ ](https://caroderobertis.com/books/cantoras/)by [Caro de Robertis](https://caroderobertis.com/bio/) in a safe and welcoming environment. Make new friends who share your passion for books and connect with fellow LGBTQ book enthusiasts.

**Our May novel is: *The Quiet Librarian* by Allen Eskens** **This month’s book is set in the 20th century and mixes historical fiction with suspense and thriller elements. It also centers on women’s stories and relationships. The novel is 368 pages in print or 8 hours and 12 minutes on audiobook.** Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared. Thirty years before, Hana was someone else: Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia—until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend—the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head\*\*.\*\*

[Columbus library link to book](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3351321) Location: The Goat River South 219 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215 Street parking is free on Sundays [Menu](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/686d3ed16745133042482c5f/t/68ff654dbb03b96875430bde/1761568077220/all_brunch-20250311.pdf) Book summary: On a hot day in Bethlehem, a twelve-year-old Palestinian-American girl is yelled at by a group of men outside the Church of the Nativity. She has exposed her legs in a biblical city, an act they deem forbidden, and their judgement will echo on through her adolescence. When our narrator finally admits to her mother that she is queer, her mother's response only intensifies a sense of shame: 'You exist too much,' she tells her daughter. Told in vignettes that flash between the U.S. and the Middle East--from New York to Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine--Zaina Arafat's debut novel traces her protagonist's progress from blushing teen to sought-after DJ and aspiring writer.

The theme for May is Thriller. • The book we will be discussing is A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. (determined by votes from April Book Club. Let me know if you'd like a free digital copy of the book) • This event will be at the main library. Feel free to come whether or not you've started or finished the book. • Small snacks will be provided. You're welcome to bring your own snacks & drinks too! Let me know if you’d like to volunteer to bring snacks or drinks for the group.

Welcome, readers! Our May read is **_Kindred_ by Octavia E. Butler.** The story follows Dana, a Black woman living in 1976 California, who is suddenly pulled back to a Maryland plantation before the Civil War. She learns her survival is tied to a white slaveholder’s son. Forced to move between centuries, she must endure the brutal realities of slavery while fighting to hold on to her identity. Tense, intimate, and unforgettable, Kindred explores how the past refuses to stay buried. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖